Information storage and retrieval network

ABSTRACT

An electric network, representing fixed, determined information, and capable of specific information selection and read-out is described. Applications are made principally to mathematical operations: multiplication, division and the conversion of numbers from one base system to another. In general the system employs switches, lamps and solid state elements in an electric circuit but a wide variety of read-out techniques are indicated. Basically, switching provides multiple circuit paths. Each circuit path represents fixed information or significance; and direct current flow in each circuit path recalls that information or significance when current in the path energizes indicating hardward. Decimal multiplication is shown in detail where multiplicand and multiplier are set on switches and products are read-out as a light or a combination of lights. A system of information indexing and read-out is shown.

[ INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL NETWORK Primary Examiner-Donald J.Yusko Assistant Examiner-Marshall M. Curtis [75] Inventor: Paul P.Luger, Seattle, Wash. [73] Assignee: The Pioneer Educational Society,

Portland, Oreg.

[22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 238,042

[52] US. Cl. 340/324 R, 35/31 C [51] Int. Cl. G09f 9/40 [58] Field ofSearch 340/365 S, 337, 324 R;

235/92 ME, 92 EA; 35/31 C; 307/30 [56] References Cited 1 UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,970,386 2/1961 Knutson 35/31 C 3,623,066 11/1971 Norris340/324 R 2,512,837 6/1950 Pescatori 35/31 C 2,805,286 9/1957 Baker235/92 ME III III

[57] ABSTRACT An electric network, representing fixed, determinedinformation, and capable of specific information selection and read-outis described. Applications are made principally to mathematicaloperations: multiplication, division and the conversion of numbers fromone base system to another. In general the system employs switches,lamps and solid state elements in an electric circuit but a wide varietyof read-out techniques are indicated. Basically, switching providesmultiple circuit paths. Each circuit path represents fixed informationor significance; and direct current flow in each circuit path recallsthat information .or significance when current in the path energizesindicating hardward. Decimal multiplication is shown in detail wheremultiplicand and multiplier are set on switches and products areread-out as a light or a combination of lights. A system of informationindexing and read-out is shown.

' "insist; Drawing an;

UUUEJUUUU PATENTEU APR 9 I974.

SHEET 1 [IF 6 o o Q 6 @UDHZU D UI H Instruments of this invention employtwo or more basic switches by means of which input information may beselected. Thus a multiplicand and multiplier or a dividend and divisormay be designated. A suitable electric circuit and a read-out device isused to indicate output values, as, e.g., a product or quotient. Thereadout hardware may employ various known devices, such as electriclamps, nixie tubes, light emitting diodes, cathode glow tubes ormagnetic tape device.

Any base system from binary on upwards may be employed. First isdescribed a decimal multiplication system and a read-out in electriclamps where one lamp is selected for each digit of the base system inthe usual fashion. Products will be described first for a decimal systemencompassing integer values from O X up to 9 X 9 but also for a systemof products up to 12 X 12, thus demonstrating a general system that maybe extended.

To route electric current only to those read-out devices that representa given product or quotient or a given desired output, diodes areemployed. A minimal use of diodes is taught for any desired circuitarrangement. Each basic input switch may contain a number of inputentries equal to the base of the system as, for example, inmultiplication or division in a decimal or quartile system, or fourinput entries per switch may be employed. However, more entry numbersthan the base of the system may be entered on each of a given pair ofinput switches, as will be shown.

The meaning of the word input, as used with the instruments of thisinvention, should be noted. Here the word input implies a selection ofinformation from the total array of fixed information which the circuitsand the switch positions are designed to represent or index. The wordinput, therefore, is not to be understood in the computer input sense.

The invention can be applied to the direct changing of decimal numbersto any other base system, as for example from decimal into binarynumbers or vice versa. Operations may also be combined: for example,dividends and divisors may be inputted and quotients may be outputted inboth decimal and binary or also in any other base system. The same istrue for multiplication.

Thus, a system that inputs decimal numbers for multiplication andoutputs products in binary becomes useful for multiplication in binary.Furthermore, by use of an instrument employing a base system formultiplication in which the operator is not skilled, checking of resultsand a facility in the system may be attained.

A specialized or generalsystem of indexing is indicated for thisinvention by which information in various categories may be selected andread-out.

The following drawings are useful in further describing the practice ofthis invention:

FIG. 1 shows a two-switch arrangement where the products of singledigits are emphasized. v

FIG. 2 shows an electric circuit useful for multiplication of intigersfrom 0 X 0 up 9 X 9.

FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit that multiplies from 0 -0 up to 12X 12.

FIG. 4 shows multiplication applied toa counting system of base four,showing also the use of more than two basic switches.

FIG. 5 shows how theinvention can be applied to the operation ofchanging decimal numbers into binary.

FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional information storage and read-outsystem.

Table I shows an array of products. The products are formed and indexedby the numbers found in the column on the right of the array and the rowbeneath. All of these products may be arranged in a system employing twobasic switches.

TABLE 1 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 24:32 40 48.56 64 72 21 2s 3s 42 49 56 631s 24 3o 36 42 4s 54 12 16 20 24 2s 32 36 9 12 15 1s 21 2427 6 s 10 121416 18 3 4 s 6 7 8 9 Turning first to FIG. 1, basic switches 1A and 1Bare shown. Both switches may be selected to be of the rotary type.Switch 1A is a single pole 10 position switch and 1B is a 9 pole 10position switch. Knobs are not shown in the diagram. The 10 stationarycontacts of switch 1A and the stationary contacts of switch 18 are shownas rectangles in the diagram. The common, slide contacts are shown at Cand are encircled. With rotation of switch 18 these movable contacts canbe brought into contact with each of the 10 rectangular contacts intheir respective rows, as shown. Also for switch 1A, its movable contactmay be brought into electrical connection with each of the 10rectangular contacts shown.

Referring to Table I and switch 1B, the array of 90 products of Table 1are meant to correspond to the array of 90 rectangular contacts ofswitch 18. Inscribed in the rectangles of FIG. 1 are all productscorresponding to the single digit products in the array of Table l. Thetwo-digit products are not inscribed but should be understood torepresent product values belonging to the respective rectangles in thearray of switch 1B.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are 10 electric lamps designated from L 0 through L9, with common terminal at 1000. These are shown in circuit with abattery or power source at B, a push button switch, PBS, a batteryswitch, BS, together with basic switches 1A and 1B.

Inspection of the stationary (gectangular) contacts of switch 1B showsthat there are 9 zero product contacts, 1 unit product contact, 7contacts for each of the 2, 3, 5 and 7 products, icontacts for the 4 and9 products and 4 contacts for the 6 and 8 products. Contacts that haveequal products are usually interconnected and thesecontact-terminal-unions or simply contact unions are connected each to1ts own product-representinglamp as shown. Thus lamp L 0 is connected tothe zero contact union, lamp L l to contact union 1, lamp L 8 to contactunion 8, and so on. In general, a contact union is defined as a singlestationary contact or a group of two or more interconnected contactsrepresenting the same output value.

It is noted that rectangular contacts 1 through 9 of switch 1A areconnected, as shown, to the movable contacts of switch 1B. Effectivelythen switch 1A selects a row of 1B and 1B in turn selects the column ofthat row corresponding to the 1B switch position. By engraving the dialsof 1A and 18 with values corresponding to the bottom row and rightcolumn of Table I indication is made of the input multiplicand andmultiplier.

Finally, contact of 1A is connected to contact union 0 of 18. It shouldbe clear then, that the circuit of FIG. 1 will select all the productsrepresented by the rectangular stationary contacts of FIG. 1(corresponding to Table I) and will output these products by means ofindicating lamps if the contact unions are properly connected toappropriate output indicating devices.

So far we have shown how to connect single digit contact unions tooutput indicating devices. This was done without the use of diodes. Nowwe turn to FIG. 2 to explain the use of diodes in the two digit productsof switch 1B of FIG. 1 which values are shown in the array of Table I.

If we make a list of two digit products in Table I (represented by thecorresponding rectangular boxes in the array of stationary contacts ofswitch 13 of FIG. 1),

k we will find that 3 products have four terminals, 2 products 3terminals, 18 have 2 terminals and 4 products have only one terminal.Let these terminals representing equal products be interconnected. Whileothers equal products are not shown connected in FIG. 1, they arerepresented as being interconnected in FIG. 2 by the contact unions.These interconnected terminals or contact unions are abreviated, in theFigures, by the letters CU. Thus in FIG. 2, contact union 12 isdesignated as CU12 and is enclosed in a rectangular box. And in likemanner all the other contact unions are represented in FIG. 2. Note alsothat CU25, even though it results from only one contact of switch 1B ofFIG. 1 is called a contact union and is represented by CU25 in arectangular box.

Electric filament devices, or electric lamps, or even nixie or cathodeglow tube devices are indicated at L 0 through L 9, of FIGS. 1 and 2,and, in addition in FIG. 2, at L 10 through L 80.

In regard to the use of diodes in FIG. 2, just as single digit productsneed not be connected to indicator devices or lamps by means of diodes(as in FIG. 1) so also, to each lamp or light L 10 through L 80 in FIG.2, one contact union may be directly connected without use ofa diode.Thus FIG. 2 shows contact unions 0 through 9 connected directly toindicator lamps L 0 through L Note that many connections in the diagramof FIG.

2 are only indicated, as is this diode terminal at T0 CU21, in order tomake the circuit diagram more readable. In this mannenthen, all contactunions and their diodesare shown in FIG. 2. As in FIG. 2, So in FIG. 2 abattery B, a battery switch BS, and a push button switch PBS are shown.

Symbolic switch contacts are shown on the right in FIG. 2. These aresymbolic contacts since, in reality,

each represents two contacts in series, one contact in switch 1A and onein switch 18 of FIG. 1. However, not all such symbolic switches areshown since it is understood that each contact union shown in FIG. 2(with rectangular box) should be connected into the circuit with its ownsymbolic contacts representative of the real contacts provided by switch1A and 1B of FIG. 1. By way of example, contact union, CU18 is thusshown connected by means of S18 in FIG. 2. Note also the dotted line tothe right of CU21 (in rectangular box). It indicates contact union 21 isto be connected through a symbolic switch (not shown) to the commonconnector at 2010. In this manner all such dotted lines are to beinterconnected.

It should be clear from the circuit of FIG. 2 that the diodes preventcurrent flow to the wrong indicator lamps. Suppose that in outputtingproduct 12 current flowing from CU12 to L 2 and L 10 was not diodeisolated. Then current would also flow to contact unions CU 4, CU 5, CU6 and CU 8, thus turning onlamps L 4,L5,L6andL8.

TABLE 11 0 12 24 36 4s 60 72 a4 96 108 120 132 144 12 0 11 22 33 44 5566 77 88 99 110 121 132 11 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 so 90 100 110 120 10 09 1s 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90 99 I08 9 ;0 s 16 24 '32 40 4s 56 64 72 soas 96 s *0 7 14 21 2s 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 7 .0 6 12 1s 24 30 36 424s 54 60 66 72 6 o 3o so 5 0 4 s 12 16 20 24 2s 32 36 40 44 4s 4 ;0 3 69 12 15 1s 21 24 27 30 33 36 3 0 2 4 6 s 10 12 14 16 1s 20 22 24 2012345678 910 .11 12 1 0l23456789l0ll l2 m T5515 11153421516 BE likeresin "EuTe'itende d'. It

contains an array of products from O X 0 through 12 X 12. The systemneeds to use only two basic switches like to 1A and 1B of FIG. 1, exceptthat switch 1A would have a single movable contact with l3 stationarycontacts and switch 18 would have 12 moving contacts each with 13stationary contacts.

Inspection of Table II reveals that two products have six terminals, oneproduct five terminals, eight with four, one with three, 31 with two andseven with only one contact resulting in a total of 50 contact unions.

FIG. 3 shows the circuit for such a system, involving two basic switchesand products through 12 X 12. The two basic switch contacts aresymbolized by the switch contacts on the right and designated by an Stogether with the particular contact union number. As in FIG. 2, many ofthese contacts are not shown but they should be understood tointerconnect each contact union through push button switch, PBS to thepower source at B.

In this diagram diodes are not shown but they are understood to bepresent in the same fashion asin FIG. 2. To read this circuit diagram ofFIG. 3 one understands that one diode is connected between L 100 andeach of the following contact unions: CU 108, CU l 10, CU 120, CU 121,CU 132 and CU 144. Also a diode connects L to CU 96 and another diode toCU 99. Again two diodes are connected to L9, one of which terminates atCU 49, the other at CU 99; three diodes interconnect L 80, one to CU 81,one to CU 84 and one to CU 88, and soon. In this way, in a mannersimilar to FIG. 2, one should understand diodes to be connected to thecontact unions.

Finally, there are five diodes that are interconnected between contactunions themselves, one between CU and CU 120, one between CU 10 and CU110 and so on also for the connections shown in FIG..3 at CU 121, CU132, and CU 144.

It should also be stated that all the contact unions in rectangularboxes in FIG. 3 should be connected through symbolic switches to thepower source B. Thus CU 100 and'CU 108 both shown in rectangular boxesshould be connected through symbolic contacts S 100 and S 108 (notshown) in order to complete the circuit. Symbolic contacts on the rightof FIG. 3 are only shown for 26 unions. Thirty-five unions are not shownconnected so as not to clutte'r the diagram.

Let us now define in a more general manner a contact terminal union orsimply, a contact union. A contact union is a single contact, or two ormore contacts that function for equal output values. These contacts,since they function for the same numerical or alphameric output areinterconnected and for this reason are called unions. Furthermore, sincecontact unions may represent any type of output they are designated withCU numbers or letters. Thus, CU 12, CU 10.5, CU-777, CU 110010, CU 10+130, etc. are possible output designations. They indicate outputcontact unions representing information as products, quotients, binaryor complex numbers or any other such type of alphanumeric significancethat is to be outputted by suitable indicator devices.

It is also noted that contact unions, when they represent products maybe referred to as product-representing-terminals .orproduct-representing-contacts. Finally, since contact unions representoutput information they might be referred to asoutput-representingcontact-terminals or simply output-terminals oroutputcontacts.

So far we have described the operation of multiplication. It is equallypossible, one can see, that output may be made for the operation ofdivision, (see Table IV),

the operation of changeof base applied to a number set or even for therepresenting of complex numbers at their operations.

We will refer to this general output as output and understand that itmight represent the end result of any methematical operator. Included insuch operations are those of finding derivatives and antideviatives andin general, the representing of classes of tensor operators. All suchoutputs, over a given range of input variables, might be memorized foroutput by an electrical circuit of this invention. More generally, suchcircuits are capable of representing and holding in memory any giveninformation which may then be outputted to various types of display ortransmitted to various stations.

Inspection of Tables I and II shows that there are three kinds ofcontact unions: There are contact unions that represent one digitproducts, contact unions that represent two digit products and contactunions that represent three digit products. Of course, by an extensionof Table II to higher products, contact unions may represent products ofa greater number of digits.

In the electric circuit, contact unions are connected to some type ofindicator, say the filament of an indicating device. In general, eachfilament or lamp or indicator, whatever is used, may be connected to onecontact union without an intervening diode. However, if additionalcontact unions are connected to an indicator filament an isolation diodeis required and one diode, in general, will be required for eachadditional contact union connected thereto after the first.

Hence a system of output indicators for contact unions that represent asingle digit will not require diode isolation when the digit indicatoris connected to only one contact union. Contact unions that representtwo digits will require, in general, two diodes intermediary betweenthemselves and their filament indicators; and contact unions thatrepresent three digits will require in general, three diodesintermediary between themselves and their lamps or the devicesindicating these digits. But to this general rule there are twoexceptions:

First, to each indicating lamp or device one contact union may bedirectly connected without an intermediary isolation diode.

Secondly, a saving may be attained when contact unions representingthree (or more) digits are to be connected to two indicating devices (asglow tubes, filaments or lamps) already isolated by the use of twodiodes. Then a saving of one diode may be effected by connecting oneonly diode in series between the three digit contact union and thecontact union representative of the two digit product already diodeconnected to its appropriate indicators.

For example, in FIG. 3, CU 121 need not employ three diodes but onlytwo. One diode for connection between CU 121 and lamp L and anotherdiode for connection between CU 121 and CU 21 already connected to L 20and L l.

Thus it turns out that isolation diodes between contact unionsthemselves represent savings in diodes whenever two or more digits in aproduct are duplicates of products represented by another contact union.We call this diode saving by diode isolation between contact unions incontradistinction to diode saving between a contact union and anindicator clue to the rule of permitting one diode free connection toeach indicator device for one contact union.

From these concepts of diode minimization one can calculate the minimumnumber of diodes D, required for any situation. Referring to the systemof Table l and FIG. 2, the minimum number of diodes, D, is equal to twotimes the number of contact unions representing two digits minus thenumber of indicators used to represent the second digit. Thus, H

1) 2 x C0 of 2 digi'ifi- [No. of 2nd digit tors] For the system of tableII and FIG. 3, formula (1) requires another term to take account of thenumber of three digit products. Note the third term on the right in thefollowing equation:

D [2 X (CU of 2 digits)] [No. of second digit indicators] {[3 X (CU of 2digits)] [No. of third digit indicators] [No. of diodes connectedbetween contact unions]} It should be clear how the system may beextended to products of any numbers of digits. As one goes toindicasystem containing products of four or more digits more terms areadded to equation (2).

Turning now to FIG. 4, multiplication is shown where more than two basicswitches are in use and in a counting system of base four. It is seenthat the stationary contacts of switch 48, 4D and 4F provide product-'representing-terminals, which for equal products are to beinterconnected, and are then to be diode connected, where necessary intodigit indicating devices shown from L through L 1000. The bracket andarrows at 4000 shown directed to the current isolation devices (diodes)at 4100 indicate the selective connections between the contact unionsand the diodes similar to the system described for FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.Brackets and dotted lines at 4200 from 4100 represent, symbolically, thecircuit connections to the indicating devices. Bracket 4300 indicatesthe possibility of increasing the number of indication lamps for anexpanded system.

Further, the stationary contacts of switch 1A will represent all themultipliers shown in the row, 0 to 1001, directly below the productarray of Table III and the column to the right of the array of Table 111from 1 to 001 will then represent the multipliers of thesemultiplicands.

It turns out that the same rules for diode utilization and savings comesinto play and that the number of diodes required for use with Table IIIis the same as described for Table 1.

It should be evident then that FIG. 2, mutatis mutandis, also representsthe general plan of circuit connections for the binary multiplication ofTable III. In binary multiplication, the contact union values are theproduct numbers shown in Table 111. Furthermore, the output indicators L0 to L 9 and L 10 to L 80 of FIG. 2 will be replaced with seven binaryindicating lamps, L1 through L 10 (such as are also shown in FIG. 5).

TABLE III The basic sw itches sii6vfiii'' 4';&{4c and-4F 1655 a circuitfor converting nuiriii ifeni deci an additional stationary contact at X,so that electric power from source B, may be connected into higher basicswitches of the circuit as shown. For example, if it is desired tomultiply 6 X 7 in base four, switch 4C and 4D will be activated whenswitch 4A is turned to its X position. Then the multiplicand l2 andmultiplier 13 are turned to select CU 222 from which contact union,current will flow to indicator lamps L 200, L 20 and L 2. Note thatmultiplicands and multipliers are shown in parentheses for decimalnotation but without parentheses for base four notation.

The column and row representing the multiplicand and multiplier shown tothe right and below switch 48 may be used conveniently for the dialposition designations of basic switches 4A and 48; so also in the caseof row and column shown for switch 4D, these may be used to designatedial positions for basic switches 4C and 4D.

It is readily seen that all contacts of switch 4D could have beenprovided on an expanded switch 48 and switch 4A could contain switch 4C.However this circuit is presented to exemplify the method forinterconnecting any number of these basic switches.

Table III shows how FIG. 1 may be adapted to binary multiplication. ThisTable shows binary products from 0 X 0 to 1001 X 1001, or, in decimalnotation, to 9 X 9. Columns to the right and below the array of productsin Table III contain both decimal and binary values of multiplicand andmultiplier. It should be understood, then, that the 9 X 10 number arrayof Table III is to be referred to the 9 X 10 array of stationarycontacts of switch 18 of FIG. 1, just as was done for Table I.

mal to binary. The circuit is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 1. Switch58 is shown as a 10 position 11 section device containing 1 10stationary contacts.

The stationary contacts of basic switchSA, shown with decimal valuesinscribed and the switch positions of 5B shown below the switch also indecimal notation may be inscribed, conveniently, upon the respectiveswitch dials.

It may be observed that the stationary contacts of 58 represent allbinary numbers corresponding to all the decimal integers from zero to110. It should also be noted that the decimal number which is the sum ofthe dial positions of 5A and 58 corresponds to the binary numberinscribed in 58 and indexed by 5A and 5B positions. Hence to operate theinstrument one must add the dial position numbers of the basic switches.

Binary indicator devices, seven in number, shown from L 1 through L 10(L 1000000) suffice to represent all binary numbers shown in switch 5B.At 5000 in FIG. 5, dotted lines and bracket together with arrow andbroken line at 5001 serve to indicate connections between the stationarycontacts of switch 58 and appropriate indicator lamps. The requiredisolation diodes, as previously taught, may represent a substantialdiode saving. It will be noted that none of the stationary contacts of5B are duplicated, hence they are not interconnected. However, we willcontinue to call these stationary contacts contact unions.

The diode savings in this arrangement is accom plished by connecting thediodes between the contact unions themselves. This is a significantdiode saving since we find a large number of duplicated digits among the110 binary numbers.

An example will suffice to show the scheme. CU l is directly connectedto L 1. Then CU 11, CU 101, CU 111, CU1001, CU 1111, CU 10101, CU 11001,CU 110001 and CU 1001, 1010001 are connected through one diode each toL 1. But after this CU 111111 may be connected through a diode to CU111, CU 11011 and CU 100011 may be connected each through a diode to CU11, and finally CU 101101 may be connected through a diode to CU 101.This is one of various possible patterns of connecting the circuit tolamp L 1.

As in previously described circuits, power source B, power switch BS,and push button switch PBS are shown; likewise electrical connectionsbetween the stationary contacts of A and the movable contacts of 5B areemployed as shown.

FIG. 6 shows how the method of this invention may be extended into ageneral system of memory, i.e., information storage with read-outcapability that may be varied almost indefinitely. One may note that thearray of stationary contacts on switch 58 of FIG. 5, representsinformation storage, as it were, for l 10 different pieces ofinformation. One might view this as a twodimensional array of memory.

In FIG. 6 we have extended the method to what might be described as athree-dimensional memory array.

It will be noted in FIG. 6 that basic switches 6A, 6B, and'6C1 up to 6CNare shown as having indefinite size. Thus basic switch 6A is shown with3 dots between the second and last stationary contacts as having anindefinite number of stationary contacts. This is also indicated for theother basic switches. Furthermore basic switch 6B is shown with 3 dotsbetween the second and last movable contact as having an indefinitenumber of movable contact rows. This is likewise indicated for the 6C1to 6CN basic switches which basic switches by the same dot symbolism areindicated to be indefinite in number, the last of these basic switchesbeing 6CN.

The interconnections between basic switches is merely symbolic in FIG.6. Thus the brackets at 6000 interconnected by a dashed line indicatethe same kind of a connection as shown in FIG. 1 between basic switches1A and 1B.

In similarfashion the double brackets connected by dashed lines 6100indicate connections between the stationary contacts of basic switch 63and the movable contacts of switches 6C1 through 6CN, as shown.

It will be seen, then, that basic switch 68 is a selector switch, as is6A and that the series of switches 6C1 through 6CN are informationstorage switches. Thus each stationary contact of each of 6C1 through6CN is available for representing information which may be numeric,alphabetic or alphanumeric.

Bracket 6500 indicates connections from the information representingcontacts of switches 6C 1 through 6CN into unit 6700 which isrepresentative of the current isolation devices required so that theinformation indicating devices at 6800 may be fiducially operated.Battery or power, source at B, power switch PB, and push button switchPBS (if desired) are connected between the moving contact of basicswitch 6A and the information indicating devices at 6800.

It is evident that the system so far described might be extended to alarger number of basic switches that are purely selective, which in turnwould extend the number of basic switches with terminals available forinformation storage. These latter switches might be termedinformation-storage switches in counter distinction to selector switcheswhich are purely selective as switch 6A and 6B in FIG. 6.

Thus, it comes about that the information-storage switches are indexedby the selector switches together with the position of aninformation-storage switch itself.

This invention, therefore, makes it possible both to store and to indexinformation. One may look upon the stationary contacts of the storageswitches as containing information-stored-for-output since theseterminals are wired to display that information; or, one may considerthe electric paths of these multiple circuit systems as memorizing orrepresenting fixed, determined information which may, then, be recalledfor display through the variety of indicating devices which have beendescribed. 1

Having presented my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an electric product indicating network for obtaining products ofmultiplicands and multipliers, comprising:

a. a first basic switch member having one movable contact and severalstationary contacts,

b. a second basic switch member having several movable contacts eachconnected to one of the stationary contacts of said first basic switchmember,

c. said second basicswitch member having one or more stationary contactsfor each of its said moving contacts, these said stationary contacts ofeach said moving contact being product-representingterminals for the twopositions of the said first and said second basic switch members.

(1. a source of electric power,

e. product indicating devices forrepresenting numerical digits eachhaving two electric connections,

f. electric current isolation devices;

g. said product representing terminals that represent the same productbeing interconnected to form contact unions, said product-representingterminals that represent unique products also being called contactunions,

" h. one said'current isolation device being interconnected between eachsaid product indicating device and each saidcontact union,

. permitting, however, one such said connection to each of all saidproduct indicating devices to be directly connected without anintervening said current isolation device,

3'. said source of electric power being connected to said single movingcontact of said first basic switch member and to the second of the twosaid electric connections of each of said'product indicating devices.

2. In an electric network according tov claim 1,

a. said electric current isolation devices being diodes,

sented by positions of said first and said second basic switch members.

3. In an electric product indicating network according to claim 1,

a. said product indicating devices being electric lamp devices,

b. said electric current isolation devices being electric diodes,

c. said electric power being a direct current source,

(1. said lamp devices being sufficient to represent all digits in allthe products corresponding to all the positions of said basic switchmembers,

e. one of said diodes being connected, as has been said, for each saiddigit of the product represented by each said contact union between thatcontact unit and the said electric lamp device,

1. permitting, however, as said, one connection to each of all electriclamp devices to be directly connected without an intervening diodedevice,

2-. and permitting also in the case of more than a first connectedContact union to a pair of indicating lamps, one said diode only in thesame fashion of (2) above 3. and permitting also, in the case of morethan one contact union representing the same three digits the use of oneonly diode in the same fashion of (2) above and so on in the case ofcontact unions that represent the same four digits or higher number ofidentical digits.

4. In a mathematical operation indicating network,

a. basic switch members,

b. a first basic switch member having one movable contact and a numberof stationary contacts equal to the base of the number system in whichoutputs are represented,

c. a second basic switch member having a number of movable contactsequal to the base of the number systems in which outputs arerepresented, and each said movable contact of said second basic switchmember having a set of stationary contacts,

d. said stationarycontacts of said first basic switch member beingconnected to the movable contacts of said second basic switch member,

e. a source of electric power with two power terminals,

ri aiiifiidvaai"ebmacfirfiit'fiasi switch member being connected to oneof two said power terminals of said source of electric power,

g. said stationary contacts of said second basic switch beingoutput-representing-contact-terminals,

h. said output-representing-contact-terminals that represent equaloutputs being interconnected one to another to form contact unions,

i. positions of said basic switches being input factors for saidmathematical operation indication network, I

j. output indicating devices capable of indicating all possible digitsin said number system, and alphamerics for all outputs represented bysaid contact unions,

k. said output-representing-contact terminals that represent uniqueoutput also being called contact unions,

1. diode devices,

' m. one said diode device being interconnected between each said outputindicating device and said contact union,

n. permitting, however, one such said connectionto each of all saidoutput indicating devices to be directly connected without anintervening said diode,

0. said output indicating devices being connected to said second powerterminal of said source of electric power.

5. In a mathematical operation indicating network as described in claim4,

a. said first basic switch member having a number of stationary contactsin excess of the number required to represent the base system employed,

b. said second basic switch member having a number of movable contactsequal to the number of stationary contacts of said first basic switchmember, and interconnected to said stationary contacts of said firstbasic switch member,

c. each said movable contact of said second basic switch member having anumber of stationary contacts equal to the number of outputs to berepresented by said movable contact of said second basic switch member.

6. In a mathematical operation indicating network as described in claim4,

a. a third basic switch member,

b. said first basic switch member having one additional stationarycontact not connected to a movable contact of said second basic switchmember,

c. said third basic switch member having one movable contact and anumber of stationary contacts,

described in claim 4,

5. a third a nd a fourth basic switch member, 7'

b. said first basic switch member having one additional stationarycontact,

c. said third basic switch member having one movable contact and aplurality of stationary contacts,

d. said plurality of stationary contacts of said third basic switchmember being connected to movable contacts of said fourth basic switchmember,

c. said movable contacts of said fourth basic switch member havingstationary contacts each of which is an output-representing-contactterminal,

f. said movable contact of said third basic switch member beingconnected to said additional stationary contact of said first basicswitch member.

7 8 In a mathematical operation indicating network as described in claim4,

a. said output indicating devices being lamps representing a decimalpoint or other base system points. 9. In a mathematical operationindicating n etwork as described in claim 4,

a. a power switch in series with power source and said output indicatingdevices,

b. a push button switch in series with said power source and said outputindicating devices.

10. In combination, in an information storage and read-out electricalnetwork,

a. basic switch members,

b. output indicating devices,

c. electric current isolation devices,

d. a source of electric power,

e. a first basic switch member having one movable contact and a numberof stationary contacts,

f. a second basic switch member having a number of movable contacts andthese said movable contacts being each connected to a stationary contactof said first basic switch member and said movable contacts of saidsecond basic switch member each having a set of stationary contacts,

g. a third basic switch member having a number of movable contacts andeach having a set of stationary contacts and each said movable contactof third basic switch member being connected to a said set of stationarycontacts of said second basic switch member,

h. a fourth and a higher number of basic switch members each having anumber of movable contacts and each said movable contact having its ownset of stationary contacts and each said movable 'adiiaei'arsaidfoiiitfand said higher number of basic switch members being connected toa said set of stationary contacts of said second basic switch member,

. said higher number of basic switch members associated in said electricnetwork being sufficient in number so that all said sets of saidstationary contacts of said second basic switch member may be connectedto a said higher basic switch member in the manner of said third basicswitch member,

j said stationary contacts of said third and said higher said outputcontact terminals that represent unique storage information for outputalso being called contact unions,

0. one-said electric current isolation device being interconnectedbetween each said output indicating device I p. permitting, however, onesuch said connection to each of all said output indicating devices to bedirectly connected without an intervening said electric currentisolation device,

q. said source of electric power being interconnected between saidmovable contact of said first basic switch member and said outputindicating devices.

11. In an information storage and read-out network as described in claim10,

a. said output indicating devices being magnetic tapes. 7 12. In aninformation storage and read-out network as described in claim 10,

a. said output indicating devices being sound production devices.

i ll a:

1. In an electric product indicating network for obtaining products ofmultiplicands and multipliers, comprising: a. a first basic switchmember having one movable contact and several stationary contacts, b. asecond basic switch member having several movable contacts eachconnected to one of the stationary contacts of said first basic switchmember, c. said second basic switch member having one or more stationarycontacts for each of its said moving contacts, these said stationarycontacts of each said moving contact being productrepresenting-terminalsfor the two positions of the said first and said second basic switchmembers. d. a source of electric power, e. product indicating devicesfor representing numerical digits each having two electric connections,f. electric current isolation devices;, g. said product representingterminals that represent the same product being interconnected to formcontact unions, said product-representing terminals that representunique products also being called contact unions, h. one said currentisolation device being interconnected between each said productindicating device and each said contact union, i. permitting, however,one such said connection to each of all said product indicating devicesto be directly connected without an intervening said current isolationdevice, j. said source of electric power being connected to said singlemoving contact of said first basic switch member and to the second ofthe two said electric and to the second of the two said electricconnections of each of said product indicating devices.
 2. In anelectric network according to claim 1, a. said electric currentisolation devices being diodes, b. said source of electric power being adirect current source, c. said product representing devices beingelectric lamps, there being one lamp for each said digit that can appearin said products of numbers represented by positions of said first andsaid second basic switch members.
 2. and permitting also in the case ofmore than a first connected contact union to a pair of indicating lamps,one said diode only in the same fashion of (2) above
 3. and permittingalso, in the case of more than one contact union representing the samethree digits the use of one only diode in the same fashion of (2) aboveand so on in the case of contact unions that represent the same fourdigits or higher number of identical digits.
 3. In an electric productindicating network according to claim 1, a. said product indicatingdevices being electric lamp devices, b. said electric current isolationdevices being electric diodes, c. said electric power being a directcurrent source, d. said lamp devices being sufficient to represent alldigits in all the products corresponding to all the positions of saidbasic switch members, e. one of said diodes being connected, as has beensaid, for each said digit of the product represented by each saidcontact union between that contact unit and the said electric lampdevice,
 4. In a mathematical operation indicating network, a. basicswitch members, b. a first basic switch member having one movablecontact and a number of stationary contacts equal to the base of thenumber system in which outputs are represented, c. a second basic switchmember having a number of movable contacts equal to the base of thenumber systems in which outputs are represented, and each said movablecontact of said second basic switch member having a set of stationarycontacts, d. said stationary contacts of said first basic switch memberbeing connected to the movable contacts of said second basic switchmember, e. a source of electric power with two power terminals, f. saidmovable contact of first basic switch member being connected to one oftwo said power terminals of said source of electric power, g. saidstationary contacts of said second basic switch beingoutput-representing-contact-terminals, h. saidoutput-representing-contact-terminals that represent equal outputs beinginterconnected one to another to form contact unions, i. positions ofsaid basic switches being input factors for said mathematical operationindication network, j. output indicating devices capable of indicatingall possible digits in said number system, and alphamerics for alloutputs represented by said contact unions, k. saidoutput-representing-contact terminals that represent unique output alsobeing called contact unions, l. diode devices, m. one said diode devicebeing interconnected between each said output indicating device and saidcontact union, n. permitting, however, one such said connection to eachof all said output indicating devices to be directly connected withoutan intervening said diode, o. said output indicating devices beingconnected to said second power terminal of said source of electricpower.
 5. In a mathematical operation iNdicating network as described inclaim 4, a. said first basic switch member having a number of stationarycontacts in excess of the number required to represent the base systememployed, b. said second basic switch member having a number of movablecontacts equal to the number of stationary contacts of said first basicswitch member, and interconnected to said stationary contacts of saidfirst basic switch member, c. each said movable contact of said secondbasic switch member having a number of stationary contacts equal to thenumber of outputs to be represented by said movable contact of saidsecond basic switch member.
 6. In a mathematical operation indicatingnetwork as described in claim 4, a. a third basic switch member, b. saidfirst basic switch member having one additional stationary contact notconnected to a movable contact of said second basic switch member, c.said third basic switch member having one movable contact and a numberof stationary contacts, d. said stationary contacts of said third basicswitch member being connected each to an additional movable contact onsaid second basic switch member, e. each said additional movable contactof said second basic switch member having stationary contacts which areoutput-representing-contact terminals, f. said movable contact of saidthird basic switch member being connected to said additional stationarycontact of said first basic switch member.
 7. In a mathematicaloperation, indicating network as described in claim 4, a. a third and afourth basic switch member, b. said first basic switch member having oneadditional stationary contact, c. said third basic switch member havingone movable contact and a plurality of stationary contacts, d. saidplurality of stationary contacts of said third basic switch member beingconnected to movable contacts of said fourth basic switch member, e.said movable contacts of said fourth basic switch member havingstationary contacts each of which is an output-representing-contactterminal, f. said movable contact of said third basic switch memberbeing connected to said additional stationary contact of said firstbasic switch member.
 8. In a mathematical operation indicating networkas described in claim 4, a. said output indicating devices being lampsrepresenting a decimal point or other base system points.
 9. In amathematical operation indicating network as described in claim 4, a. apower switch in series with power source and said output indicatingdevices, b. a push button switch in series with said power source andsaid output indicating devices.
 10. In combination, in an informationstorage and read-out electrical network, a. basic switch members, b.output indicating devices, c. electric current isolation devices, d. asource of electric power, e. a first basic switch member having onemovable contact and a number of stationary contacts, f. a second basicswitch member having a number of movable contacts and these said movablecontacts being each connected to a stationary contact of said firstbasic switch member and said movable contacts of said second basicswitch member each having a set of stationary contacts, g. a third basicswitch member having a number of movable contacts and each having a setof stationary contacts and each said movable contact of third basicswitch member being connected to a said set of stationary contacts ofsaid second basic switch member, h. a fourth and a higher number ofbasic switch members each having a number of movable contacts and eachsaid movable contact having its own set of stationary contacts and eachsaid movable contact of said fourth and said higher number of basicswitch members being connected to a said set of stationary contacts ofsaid second basic switch member, i. said higher number of basic switchmembers associated in said electric network being sufficient in nUmberso that all said sets of said stationary contacts of said second basicswitch member may be connected to a said higher basic switch member inthe manner of said third basic switch member, j. said stationarycontacts of said third and said higher basic switch members being outputcontact terminals representing storage information for output, k. saidoutput contact terminals representing storage information for outputbeing interconnected to form contact unions whenever two or more suchsaid contact terminals represent the same storage information, l.positions of said basic switches being index positions for retrieval andread-out of said storage information, m. said output indicating devicesbeing capable of representing all possible alphanumerics and symbolsrequired to represent all said storage information represented by saidoutput contact terminals, n. said output contact terminals thatrepresent unique storage information for output also being calledcontact unions, o. one said electric current isolation device beinginterconnected between each said output indicating device p. permitting,however, one such said connection to each of all said output indicatingdevices to be directly connected without an intervening said electriccurrent isolation device, q. said source of electric power beinginterconnected between said movable contact of said first basic switchmember and said output indicating devices.
 11. In an information storageand read-out network as described in claim 10, a. said output indicatingdevices being magnetic tapes.
 12. In an information storage and read-outnetwork as described in claim 10, a. said output indicating devicesbeing sound production devices.